Our most recommended things to do in Kato Gouves

Cretan night traditional dance and food

1. Cretan night traditional dance and food

Early in the evening, under the starry sky, in a summer tavern with the atmosphere flooded with the aroma of jasmine and the sweet melody of lyre and bouzouki, in the ancient village of Karouzanos, you will have the opportunity to walk through the streets of the traditional village and take a look at the rural life of this charming place. Then you will taste the traditional local dishes and the famous wine and shortly afterwards you will enjoy the unique grace of the Cretan dancers with their traditional costumes that will dance for you Cretan Greek and Folk dances. Catch up at the dance with them, follow in their footsteps and feel for an evening like Zorba. An ideal opportunity to have fun as Cretans, taste traditional dishes, learn a little more about the people of Crete and keep the memory of this wonderful night in your heart.

Dia Island: Sunset Sailing Trip with Dinner

2. Dia Island: Sunset Sailing Trip with Dinner

Explore the beautiful coastline of Dia on a sailing trip. Enjoy the stunning sunset with panoramic views of the beaches, cliffs, and more while feasting on Mediterranean food. Board a sailboat and experience a unique way to appreciate the region's coastal charm. Enjoy the gentle sea breeze while sipping on tasty drinks. Throughout the trip, you will get ample opportunities to click pictures of the villages along the way. Savor a delicious Mediterranean dinner as you admire the natural beauty of the island. You can also snorkel or enjoy a refreshing swim in the blue Cretan Sea. Get an opportunity to use your amateur fishing skills or use a stand-up paddle board and feel the joy of being on the water. Finally, watch the magical colors of the sky as the sun sets over the river before returning to the shore. 

From Heraklion: Elounda, Kolokitha, and Spinalonga Boat Trip

3. From Heraklion: Elounda, Kolokitha, and Spinalonga Boat Trip

Relax and enjoy a 4-hour long boat trip to some of Crete's most famous sites. Explore the lagoon of Elounda, see Kolokitha's beautiful sandy beach, and see Spinalonga, a former leper colony and Venetian fortress. Begin the tour at Elounda Port at 2 p.m. where you get on board the boat. Set sail towards Spinalonga Island, a picturesque islet known for its stunning scenery and rich history. Approach the island, where you will get to see the Venetian fortress, which was once used as a leper colony. Head towards the Barbarossa cave, a natural wonder that will take your breath away. Learn more about the cave, named after the famous pirate Barbarossa, who used it as a hideout in the past. Enjoy a chance to take photos and explore the cave before you move on to the next stop. Move on to the next destination, Skistra Beach, where you will get to swim in crystal-clear waters and soak up the sun. Admire the beach, known for its stunning scenery and tranquil atmosphere, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind. Take a refreshing swim before will heading towards Kolokytha Beach, where you'll get to enjoy the pristine sand and turquoise waters of the beach, surrounded by lush vegetation, providing a stunning backdrop for your photos. Indulge in a salad and fruit bar on board, where you can enjoy healthy snacks and refreshments. Order cocktails at an additional cost and sip on delicious drinks as you take in the stunning views.

Heraklion: Spinalonga Agios Nic Elounda all inn Boat and BBQ

4. Heraklion: Spinalonga Agios Nic Elounda all inn Boat and BBQ

Enjoy a walking tour of the island of Spinalonga during a full-day excursion from Elounda to the island. Visit Agios Nikolaos and Elounda and swim in the crystal-clear waters of Kolokytha, where you can enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch. Leave from Heraklion, in a spacious, comfortable bus and travel to the designated locations, along the coast through the St. George Gorge to Elounda, a tranquil coastal resort. Board the boat around 10:00, and visit the bay and the beach of Kolokytha, a secluded haven that offers a respite from daily life. You can swim and eat a delicious BBQ on board. Take the boat to Spinalonga around 12:45, traveling across Mirabello Bay. Learn about Spinalonga's complex history as a natural barrier for Olous in Ancient Greek times, a Saracen pirate refuge, a Venetian fortification, and a Turkic settlement. Depart from Spinalonga at appr. 2:45 pm. As you head towards our last destination from Elounda by bus, you will have the opportunity for a quick olive oil tasting, before arriving at the capital town of Lassithi, Agios Nikolaos at around 3:45 pm. Relax in a café next to the bottomless Lake of Voulismeni and enjoy your walk to the local shops. Return to Heraklion after the excursion, at approximately 6:30 pm.

Cretan Traditional Dinner and Dance Show in a Village

5. Cretan Traditional Dinner and Dance Show in a Village

Join a unique journey through the vibrant culture of Crete as you explore the island’s traditional dances and cuisine. This unforgettable evening will take you on a journey through the heart of Crete, where you’ll experience the local way of life and the rich history of the island. You start early in the evening by picking you up from specific pick-up locations. You arrive at the village of Karouzanos at around 19:30, there you will have the chance to stroll through its streets and observe the rural life of this wonderful place. Later, you arrive at the traditional taverna and enjoy a warm welcome from the local hosts, there they savor a delicious meal of Cretan specialties, including traditional meze, dinner, and Cretan wine. Soon after, you will be able to enjoy the unique grace of the Cretan dancers in their traditional costumes as they perform Cretan Greek and Folk dances. Catch up with them at the dance, follow in their footsteps, and experience an evening like Zorba. Opa!

Heraklion: Sunset Safari with Dinner & Prosecco

6. Heraklion: Sunset Safari with Dinner & Prosecco

Our journey starts from your hotel making our way through the breathtaking mountains of Crete we visit the Aposelemis basin reservoir and an ancient Roman aqueduct. From here, we will visit the quaint village of Kastamonitsa nestling in the foothills of the Afendi Mountains where you will be introduced to a local product, Raki. Now brace yourselves for dirt tracks, following the Minoan path going through mountain passes, experiencing spectacular wildlife, unbelievable scenery, mythology, history and enjoy seeing the local nature at its best. For our next stop, we will relax with a glass of prosecco with fruits whilst admiring the birds-eye view of the plateau of Lassithi and the North coast, a great photo opportunity not to be missed. After building up an appetite we head for a Cretan-style evening meal at a local taverna with lots of surprises. Where you will have the opportunity to try a selection of traditional local starters and main courses (vegetarian option available) and enjoy a glass or two of the unlimited wine! Leaving the tavern, meandering down the mountain roads we will take in the views of the moonlit coastline dotted with the twinkling lights of the towns and villages.

Crete: Off-Road Quad Safari and Cave Exploring

7. Crete: Off-Road Quad Safari and Cave Exploring

In the city of Gouves, our group of adrenaline enthusiasts undergoes a safety briefing and receives quad bikes and helmets. The trip does not take place on public roads. The entire route is laid out on dirt roads, olive groves, and rough terrain. On this journey, Tez Tour paid maximum attention to safety! The group moved in a column, with drivers maintaining distance and not overtaking each other. On the way, we encounter small ravines and hills, rocky hills, and clay streams. We ride through olive groves and groves of wild carob trees. As we advance, we get further and further away from civilization. Along the way, there are thickets of impassable Mediterranean shrubs and grass. Our path leads deep into the islands, to the cave of St. Paraskeva (Skotino). On the way to the cave, our convoy of quad bikes moves along the upper edge of the Skotino canyon. The landscapes that open up are simply breathtaking. From a bird's-eye view, we see the bottom of the gorge, where we will pass through thickets of green shrubs and reeds on the way back. While moving in a column, guests can enjoy the views and nature, but for full safety, it is not possible to "squeeze out the maximum" potential of the quad bike. Experienced drivers or adrenaline lovers may have a huge desire to try something more. During the stop near the cave, guests can ride "almost without restrictions" on a wide dirt road. Those who have enough adrenaline can also visit two small mountain churches built right above the entrance to the cave. When the group is ready, the guide hands out headlamps and helmets, takes a large flashlight, and we begin an exciting exploration of the underground world of the Skotino cave. First, we discuss safety techniques and then descend to the bottom of the cave. The entrance is hidden in dense green vegetation, and there is no one around except us. The cave is one of the largest in Crete and Greece, about 10 times the size of the famous Zeus cave. The descent is not difficult. Non-professional cavers only need about 1-1,5 hours to explore the cave's stalactites and stalagmites. After visiting the cave, the group of quad bikes returns to Gouves.

Knossos Palace guided tour - Heraklion City tour + market

8. Knossos Palace guided tour - Heraklion City tour + market

Join a journey through time as you explore the ancient ruins of Knossos Palace and the bustling city of Heraklion. Early in the morning, you visit Knossos Palace, the most You’ll-known landmark on the island of Crete and one of Greece's most spectacular archaeological sites. With your guide, explore the archaeological site and discover more about its intriguing and enigmatic past. Our next stop is to the village of Patsides to see the Minoan Farm, where you can sample their Cretan traditional products and roam through their land that is completely covered with Cretan plants. Later, you return to the city for a stroll through Heraklion's historic center with a live English speaking tour guide. Then, you will have free time in the capital of Crete to browse its contemporary shops, have lunch or a coffee in one of its many restaurants, or explore its magnificent medieval structures. If you'd like, you may also buy a ticket and visit the archaeological museum.

Heraklion: Samaria Gorge Guided Hiking Day Tour

9. Heraklion: Samaria Gorge Guided Hiking Day Tour

Join us on an ultimate hiking experience of the Samaria Gorge. This is one of the longest gorge and the most beautiful in Europe. Our activity starts at 05:30 in the morning from Heraklion areas with a pick up point close to your hotel or your hotel. The gorge is located at the south of Chania Prefecture in southwest Crete. It was created by a small river flowing off the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). The gorge is 13 km long, starting at an altitude of 1,250m at the northern entrance (Omalos), and ending at the shores of the South Cretan Sea in Agia Roumeli. One of the most impressive mountain regions of Crete. After 2 two hours drive we arrive at the entrance on the plateau Omalos of the White Mountains. The entrance of the longest gorge in Europe (11 miles) lies at 4000 ft. You have the option to enjoy your breakfast on the top of the mountain close to nature and the fresh air before you start your activity. The hiking starts from Xiloskalo, we step over rocks and stones down the gorge, through a fantastic forest among thousands of years old trees, along a little river and fresh-water springs. The walk is partially difficult. It lasts approximately 5-6 hours and you need absolutely good shoes- mountain boots or, at least, strong trainers. The path follows the route of Taras, a river with gurgling, lucid water. It gave its name to the ancient town which was located at the end of the gorge. On the way, we can get a glimpse of the caves that formed a natural shelter for the Cretans. In war times and now they are the natural habitat of the well-known wild goats, or kri-kri, as they are also called. Halfway we come across the village of Santa Maria, which was abandoned by its last inhabitants in 1962. Three kilometres prior to our exiting this majestic gorge, we reach the Iron Gates (Sideroportes), the narrowest spot of the route, just a few meters wide, but 300 meters high – an amazing contradiction that can cause nothing but awe. At the end of the gorge, we reach the Lybian sea and the village of Agia Roumeli, where you can relax and enjoy swimming and after a meal at the local taverns, before you join the group to take ferry to Chora Sfakion, where our bus waiting to take you back to your original pick up point, arriving approximately at 21:30 at night after unforgettable day experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.

From Heraklion: Villages Day Trip with Cretan Lunch and Wine

10. From Heraklion: Villages Day Trip with Cretan Lunch and Wine

This tour is for all you foodies out there! The tour starts with a tour around the villages of the province. Afterwards we visit a cave of mythological significance and interest where we will stop for a refreshing seasonal fruit. Then a visit to the unique sinking village Sfendili which is located near the Aposelemis dam. It is then time to visit the traditional village and try Cretan delicacies. You will enjoy a rich meal at the tavern located at the square of the village and have the chance to taste various flavors of the Cretan cuisine. The tours ends beautifully with a stop to admire the breathtaking view of the northern coastline.

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